Storms Carry Cold Snap

Gusts Topple Trees, Knock Out Power

A line of squalls blew through South Florida with heavy showers and gusty winds Monday afternoon, toppling trees, knocking out power and sending temperatures tumbling.

The storms rode the leading edge of a cold front that will push temperatures into the upper 50s by this morning and even lower on Wednesday night.

Broad bands of rain and thunderstorms severe enough to prompt a tornado warning from the National Weather Service broke across western Broward County about 2:15 p.m. Monday.

No tornadoes appeared, but the storms did kick up wind gusts estimated at 60 mph in Pembroke Pines, 50 mph in Coral Gables and 30 mph in West Palm Beach.

The gusts knocked out electricity to about 20,000 Florida Power & Light Co. customers in Broward and north Dade counties.

By 9 p.m., FPL said 204 homes in Broward were without power, but were expected to be restored within an hour.

The wind also flattened backyard sheds and knocked down trees, including one 20-footer in Hampshire Estates in Miramar.

"It was like a small tornado," resident Leonard Bushley said. The heavy winds and rain also delayed some flights at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International and Miami International airports.

A spokesman at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood said flights were delayed for an hour or so at the peak of the storm. Delays were less severe at Miami International, only about 10 or 15 minutes, spokesman Mark Henderson said.

The storms cleared by Monday evening, leaving behind cooler weather that will stick around for the next few days, along with clear skies and brisk breezes, Weather Service specialist Bob Ebaugh said.

Today's high will hit only the low to mid-70s, and Wednesday will be cooler still, with lows in the upper 40s and highs in the upper 60s.